Lipstick identifiers

ABSTRACT

A band, sleeve, or tag that encircles and fits around the case or tube of lipstick, lip gloss, chap stick, or similar item. The band, sleeve or tag has different textures, patterns, designs, colors, shapes, width, and the like, so that the user can identify the different case or tubes by feel, or by visual inspection of the larger visual identifier, instead of having to look down or read the label. The band, sleeve, or tag can come in different sizes to accommodate differently sized tubes or cases. They may have charms, sequins, furs, rhinestones, ribbons, glitter, and similar items attached or incorporated into the band, sleeve or tag, in addition to variations in color, width, patterns, and designs.

This application claims benefit of and priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/843,530, filed Jul. 8, 2013, by Cindy J. Cohn, and is entitled to that filing date for priority. The specification, figures and complete disclosure of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/843,530 are incorporated herein by specific reference for all purposes.

FIELD OF INVENTION

This invention relates to a device and method for identifying and distinguishing lipstick tubes from each other.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Many individuals carry multiple colors and styles of lipstick in their bags and purses. While tube shapes may vary slightly by manufacturer, lipstick of the same line or from the same manufacturer generally have the same case shape, and thus cannot easily be distinguished by feel or sight. To get the desired tube of lipstick, the individual usually must reach in their bag multiple times and read the fine print on the tube (typically on the bottom of the tube) to try to determine whether the right tube has been successfully retrieved. This not only is inconvenient, but can raise safety concerns (such as while driving).

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In various exemplary embodiments, the present invention comprises a band, sleeve, or tag that encircles and fits around the case or tube of lipstick, lip gloss, chap stick, or similar item. The band, sleeve or tag has different textures, patterns, designs, colors, shapes, width, and the like, so that the user can identify the different case or tubes by feel, or by visual inspection of the larger visual identifier, instead of having to look down or read the label.

The band, sleeve, or tag can come in different sizes to accommodate differently sized tubes or cases. They may have charms, sequins, furs, rhinestones, ribbons, glitter, and similar items attached or incorporated into the band, sleeve or tag, in addition to variations in color, width, patterns, and designs. In one embodiment, Braille words, numbers or symbols may be embedded therein.

The device may be made of any suitable material, including but not limited to, rubber, elastic, cloth, ribbon, Velcro, plastic, paper, metal, or adhesive paper. In one embodiment, the device may be easily installed on the tube, and removed for use on other tubes as desired. In another embodiment, the device may be permanently installed on the tube, and the tube may, in fact, be sold with the device installed. In yet another embodiment, the tube or case itself may incorporate as integral elements the textures, Braille, or other elements as described above.

In one exemplary embodiment, the device of the present invention may be sold individually, or sold in multi-packs (e.g., with 3 or 4 or more separate bands).

In one particular embodiment, the device of the present invention is 7/16″ in width, 1/32″ in thickness, and 1″ in diameter; however, the device could be made in a variety of diameters, widths and thicknesses to be used on a variety of different-sized tubes.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a lipstick identifier in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 show a top view of the device of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of another lipstick identifier.

FIG. 4 shows a side view of another lipstick identifier.

FIG. 5 shows a side view of another lipstick identifier.

FIGS. 6 and 7 show the identifiers of FIGS. 1 and 2 on lipstick tubes.

FIG. 8 shows a perspective view of a lipstick identifier in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 shows a top view of the identifier of FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 shows a perspective view of another lipstick identifier.

FIG. 11 shows several identifiers in accordance with various embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 12 shows another perspective view of the identifiers of FIG. 11.

FIG. 13 shows the identifiers of FIG. 11 in place on lipstick tubes.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

In various exemplary embodiments, as seen in FIGS. 1-13, the present invention comprises a band, sleeve, or tag 10 that encircles and fits around the case or tube of lipstick, lip gloss, chap stick, or similar item 20. The band, sleeve or tag has different decorative elements 12 in the form of textures, patterns, designs, colors, shapes, width, and the like, so that the user can identify the different case or tubes by feel, or by visual inspection of the larger visual identifier, instead of having to look down or read the label.

As seen in the figures, the band, sleeve, or tag can come in different sizes (e.g., diameter, thickness and width) to accommodate differently sized tubes or cases. They may have charms, sequins, furs, rhinestones, ribbons, glitter, rubber, and similar items 20 attached or incorporated into the band, sleeve or tag 10, in addition to variations in color, width, patterns, and designs. In one embodiment, Braille words, numbers or symbols may be embedded therein.

The device may be made of any suitable material, including but not limited to, rubber, elastic, cloth, ribbon, Velcro, plastic, paper, metal, or adhesive paper. In one embodiment, the device may be easily installed on the tube, and removed for use on other tubes as desired. The interior of the device may be coated with rubber or other substance to help the device stay in place on the tube unless deliberately removed. In another embodiment, the device may be permanently installed on the tube, and the tube may, in fact, be sold with the device installed. In yet another embodiment, the tube or case itself may incorporate as integral elements the textures, Braille, or other elements as described above.

In one exemplary embodiment, the device of the present invention may be sold individually, or sold in multi-packs (e.g., with 3 or 4 or more separate bands).

In one particular embodiment, the device of the present invention is 7/16″ in width, 1/32″ in thickness, and 1″ in diameter; however, the device could be made in a variety of diameters, widths and thicknesses to be used on a variety of different-sized tubes.

Thus, it should be understood that the embodiments and examples described herein have been chosen and described in order to best illustrate the principles of the invention and its practical applications to thereby enable one of ordinary skill in the art to best utilize the invention in various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited for particular uses contemplated. Even though specific embodiments of this invention have been described, they are not to be taken as exhaustive. There are several variations that will be apparent to those skilled in the art. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A system for identifying lipstick by touch, comprising: a lipstick tube with a main body; and a band adapted to fit around the main body, wherein the band comprises one or more distinguishable tactile elements.
 2. The system of claim 1, wherein the band is elastic.
 3. The system of claim 1, wherein the band is removable.
 4. The system of claim 1, wherein the band is affixed to the main body.
 5. The system of claim 1, wherein the tactile element comprises a pattern on the band.
 6. The system of claim 1, wherein the tactile element comprises one or more raised sections of the band.
 7. The system of claim 1, wherein the tactile elements comprises one or more charms.
 8. The system of claim 1, wherein the tactile elements comprises a one or more sequins, rhinestones, glitter, or ribbons.
 9. The system of claim 1, wherein the tactile elements comprises a charm, a sequin, a piece of fur, a rhinestone, a ribbon, glitter, or combinations thereof.
 10. A device, comprising: a band adapted to fit around the main body of a lipstick tube; and one or more distinguishable tactile elements in or on the band.
 11. The system of claim 10, wherein the tactile element comprises a pattern on the band.
 12. The system of claim 10, wherein the tactile element comprises one or more raised sections of the band.
 13. The system of claim 10, wherein the tactile elements comprises one or more charms.
 14. The system of claim 10, wherein the tactile elements comprises a one or more sequins, rhinestones, glitter, or ribbons.
 15. The system of claim 10, wherein the tactile elements comprises a charm, a sequin, a piece of fur, a rhinestone, a ribbon, glitter, or combinations thereof.
 16. A system for identifying lipstick by touch, comprising: a lipstick tube with a main body; and two or more bands adapted to fit around the main body, wherein each band comprises one or more distinguishable tactile elements; further wherein the tactile elements on each band are distinguishable by feel from the tactile elements on other bands. 